Page 22 of The Rebound Play
A cloud crosses his features. “Real men don’t treat their wives and kids like that, you know. Ellie told me what happened. The guy’s scum.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.”
He pauses for a beat before he says, “You’re a good person. I hope you know that.”
Our gazes lock, and I swear I could get completely lost in the depths of his soft brown eyes.
But I can’t let that happen. It will only lead to heartache. He’s here for six weeks and then he’s gone, back to his big fancy life. And I’ll be left behind here in Maple Falls. Again.
I clear my throat. “They’re great kids.”
“And they’re lucky to have you as their aunt.”
Would you stop with the compliments? My heart can’t take any more!
“The reason I wanted to talk to you is that I’d like to give Benny some hockey lessons. Just to get him started. That way he can get some skills before he tries out for a team.”
Could this guy get any sweeter?
I know how much Benny would love that. Not only would he get to learn some basic hockey moves, but being taught by Dan the Man? He would boast about it for years to come.
“Dan, that’s so kind of you, but we don’t have any of the hockey gear for him.”
“Look, I get a whole bunch of stuff for free. It’s one of the perks of the job, I guess. I can get him some skates, a helmet, a hockey stick, the whole lot.”
“Dan—”
“Let me do this for him, okay? It’s no big deal for me. Really.”
I can’t help but bristle. This might not be a big deal for someone with his kind of cash, but for us, it’s a whole other ball game. “It’s a big deal to me.”
He pulls his lips into a line as he raises one of his big hands in the air. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that I get this free stuff. Benny needs proper hockey skates, so he doesn’t hurt himself or others. It’s a safety thing.”
“Maybe we’ll get some second-hand hockey skates.”
“Kiki,” he says, his tone intimate, familiar. It does weird things to my heart.
“I guess having the right skates can’t hurt. I’ll talk to Clara about it. You do get them for free, right?”
He grins at me. “I do. Promise.” He places his hand over his chest. “He’s gonna love learning.”
“Oh, I know he will.”
“When could you bring him to the arena? We have practice in the mornings, so I’m free most afternoons other than when we have this big media event. Troy said classes are done by five o’clock most days, and I could have the rink for an hour or so then. Would that work for you?”
I study his face, wondering why he’s offering to do this. I always knew Dan was a stand-up guy. Back in high school, he was never one of those talented athletes who thought a lot of himself, like some of the other guys. He was a quiet achiever, never boasting, never strutting up and down the hall like he owned the place, like some loud jock who rubbed his prowess in people’s faces.
“I’ll have to check with his mom,” I reply, even though I’m the one who keeps the kids’ schedules. I’m trying my best not to fall back in love with him right here among the shelves of books.
A professional hockey player who wants to teach a little boy how to play in his spare time? Dan is yanking on my heartstrings—hard. And the very last thing I need right now is my heartstrings being yanked on by the big NHL star with a glamorous life on the other side of the country.
Dan’s face slides into a grin. “Sure. Of course. Let me know.”
“Okay. And ... thanks. It’s really kind of you.”
“If he’s half as good a hockey player as his sister is a figure skater, he’ll go far.” He pulls his latest model iPhone from his pocket. “What’s your number?”
“Same as it always was.”